Iowa's McCollum Credits 2025-26 Team for March Madness Foundation

Head coach Ben McCollum sees the Elite Eight run as a starting point for future success.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:23am

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In his first season as Iowa's head coach, Ben McCollum led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament before falling to Big Ten rival Illinois. Despite the loss, McCollum praised his 2025-26 team for laying the groundwork for future March Madness success, highlighting the contributions of seniors Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks.

Why it matters

McCollum's ability to quickly turn around the Iowa program and guide them to the brink of the Final Four in his debut season has generated significant optimism around the Hawkeyes' basketball future. The team's unexpected tournament run has set high expectations for the program going forward.

The details

Iowa's season ended with a 71-59 loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight, but McCollum was proud of how his team performed throughout the tournament. Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 24 points, including four 3-pointers, while Banks averaged 10.4 points per game. Both seniors were instrumental in setting the tone for McCollum's first Iowa squad, which finished the year 24-12 overall.

  • Iowa's season ended on March 29, 2026 with the loss to Illinois.
  • McCollum is in his first season as Iowa's head coach after previously coaching at Northwest Missouri State and Drake.

The players

Ben McCollum

The 44-year-old is in his first season as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team. He previously coached at the NCAA Division II level before taking the job at Iowa.

Bennett Stirtz

A senior guard who led Iowa in scoring during the 2025-26 season, averaging a career-high 19.7 points per game. Stirtz has played for McCollum dating back to their time together at Northwest Missouri State.

Tavion Banks

A senior forward who averaged 10.4 points per game for Iowa during the 2025-26 season. Banks also followed McCollum from Drake to Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“This group has done a lot for the University of Iowa. It's always hard afterwards because as a coach, you always think about what you could've done better because it's the nature of your mind. But they did set a foundation for the University of Iowa and hopefully the future.”

— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes

What’s next

McCollum and Iowa will look to build on their surprise 2025-26 season and make another deep NCAA Tournament run in 2026-27 with a likely Top 25 preseason ranking.

The takeaway

Ben McCollum's first season as Iowa's head coach exceeded expectations, as he guided the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. While the team's tournament run ultimately fell short, McCollum believes the 2025-26 squad laid a strong foundation for the program's future success.